Naomi Ruff’s Top-5 Finish Leads U.S. Triathletes at 2026 World Triathlon U23 World Championships
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by Kennedy Terry
PONTEVEDRA, Spain – Naomi Ruff’s fourth place finish led the U.S. U23 triathletes on Friday, Sept. 25, at the 2026 World Triathlon U23 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
Ruff finished the Olympic Distance race, consisting of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run, in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 23 seconds. France’s Ilona Hadhoum won the world title in 1:58:11, followed by teammate Léa Houart in 1:59:11. Sidney Clement (CAN) rounded out the podium in third at 2:01:06.
After exiting the water in 12th place, Ruff remained in the first chase pack throughout the bike before entering the run course in 26th. She delivered one of the fastest runs across the field, covering the 10k leg in 34:46. Ruff battled Great Britain’s Bethany Cook through the final lap, ultimately edging her at the finish by seven seconds.
Ruff’s performance was the highest U.S. finish of the day, with Faith Duncan placing 24th, Kelly Wetteland placing 30th, Chelsea Webber placing 35th and Joy Gill placing 40th.
On the men’s side, Porter Middaugh led the U.S. in 34th place, closing the race with a 30:12 10-kilometer run. Blake Bullard finished 39th and Keller Norland placed 52nd while continuing to manage a foot injury. Carter Stuhlmacher, who exited the water first and entered the lead bike group, was unable to finish after retiring from the race due to illness.
Ruff is a graduate and former NCAA Women’s Triathlete at Arizona State University, and her performance highlights the growing pathway from collegiate triathlon to international competition. Her Arizona State teammates, Clement, who placed third, and Britney Brown (TRI), plus Wetteland, who competes for the University of Arizona, will return to the U.S. to compete in the 2026 NCAA Women’s Triathlon season this fall.
NCAA Women’s Triathlon is an emerging NCAA championship sport that has rapidly grown since being added in 2014. Today, triathlon is a varsity sport at colleges and universities across all three NCAA divisions, with programs continuing to expand nationwide. Through providing resources, funding, and support to schools, USA Triathlon, with significant support from the USA Triathlon Foundation and the TriDave Legacy Trust, is working to advance women’s triathlon toward full NCAA championship status.
The U.S. Elite Women race on Saturday, Sept. 26, and the U.S. Elite Men look to rebound on Sunday, Sept. 27. Watch the action on Triathlon Live. Buy your pass here to subscribe.
Saturday, Sept. 26
Elite Women: Noon ET / 9 a.m. PT (6 p.m. local time)
Sunday, Sept. 27
Paratriathlon Mixed Relay: 3 a.m. ET / Midnight PT (9 a.m. local time)
Junior/U23 Mixed Relay: 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT (11 a.m. local time)
Elite Men: Noon ET / 9 a.m. PT (6 p.m. local time)
Pontevedra, Spain | Sept. 25, 2026
U23 Women
1. Ilona Hadhoum (FRA), 1:58:11
2. Lea Houart (FRA), 1:59:26
3. Sidney Clement (CAN), 2:01:06
U.S. Finishers
4. Naomi Ruff (West Chicago, Ill.), 2:01:23
24. Faith Duncan (Lebanon, Ohio), 2:03:52
30. Kelly Wetteland (Los Alamos, N.M.), 2:05:52
35. Chelsea Webber (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 2:06:40
40. Joy Gill (San Antonio, Texas), 2:07:42
U23 Men
1. Nils Serre Gehri (FRA), 1:46:01
2. Michael Gar (GBR), 1:46:22
3. Zalán Hóbor (HUN), 1:46:24
U.S. Finishers
34. Porter Middaugh (Vail, Colo.), 1:50:12
39. Blake Bullard (Southlake, Texas), 1:50:35
52. Keller Norland (Corvallis, Ore.), 1:54:42
DNF. Carter Stuhlmacher (Clermont, Fla.)
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
The USA Triathlon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the charitable arm of USA Triathlon. With its mission to transform lives through sport by providing opportunities to swim, bike and run, the Foundation serves to generate a greater impact on the multisport community through charitable giveback and grants that advance the Foundation’s three pillars: (1) Encourage youth participation; (2) Inspire Pathways to Access and Inclusion; and (3) Ignite Olympic/Paralympic dreams. Since the Foundation was established in 2014, it has impacted the lives of thousands by providing grants to organizations and individuals in pursuit of its mission and pillars to create a healthier United States through triathlon. To learn more about the Foundation and get involved, please visit usatriathlonfoundation.org.
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